Anadarko's Lakota Beatty was selected as the Gatorade Oklahoma Girls Basketball Player of the Year, it was announced Thursday.

REACTION: Anadarko's Lakota Beatty (23) reacts after making a shot and being fouled during a Class 4A girls high school basketball game against Vinita in the first round of the state tournament at the Sawyer Center on the campus of Southern Nazarene University in Bethany, Okla., Thursday, March 7, 2013. Anadarko won, 51-45. Photo by Nate Billings, The Oklahoman

Beatty, an Oklahoma State signee, averaged 20.1 points, 5.6 assists, 4.7 rebounds and 3.5 steals per game for the Lady Warriors. Anadarko made it to the Class 4A semifinals.

As a junior, Beatty was an Oklahoman Super Five selection after leading her team to a state title.

The award honors athletic excellence as well as academic achievement and character on and off the court.

With the award, Beatty is a finalist for the Gatorade National Girls Basketball Player of the Year award, which will be announced later this month.

Kyle Staggs couldn't be at Carl Albert's game Thursday against Dale, but the Titans still used the game as a fundraiser for Staggs' Make-A-Wish Foundation trip to Disney World.

The gate proceeds from the game between top-ranked teams were donated to the cause, and other donations were accepted at the game.

The Titans wore a patch honoring Staggs.

The game didn't go Carl Albert's way, though.

The Class 2A No. 1 Pirates scored eight runs in the sixth to break a 3-all tie and come out with an 11-3 win.

Hunter Pinkston's grand slam capped the inning.

Ole Miss signee Evan Anderson struck out 10 and allowed just one hit in four innings as Dale took a 3-0 lead before the Titans tied it in the fifth.

DEER CREEK'S BURNETT PICKS ORU

Deer Creek sprinter Kirsten Burnett has decided on her college future, verbally committing to the Oral Roberts track program on Wednesday.

Burnett won four gold medals at the Class 5A state track meet last season, including individual victories in the 100 and 200 meters. She was named The Oklahoman's Big All-City Girls Track Athlete of the Year.

Burnett picked ORU over Oklahoma Baptist.

“I felt very at home there. I knew I'd be comfortable,” Burnett said of ORU. “I think there's a lot of potential to grow individually and as a program.”

MIDWEST CITY, OKEMAH WIN POWERLIFTING TITLES

Midwest City and Okemah won state powerlifting state titles last weekend at the Oklahoma Football Coaches Association's state powerlifting meet at McLoud High School.

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by Ed Godfrey

Copy Editor, Outdoors Editor, Rodeo, River Sports Reporter

Ed Godfrey was born in Muskogee and raised in Stigler. He has worked at The Oklahoman for 25 years. During that time, he has worked a myriad of beats for The Oklahoman including both the federal and county courthouse in Oklahoma City for more...

Ryan Aber has worked for The Oklahoman since 2006, covering high schools, the Oklahoma City RedHawks, the Oklahoma City Barons and OU football recruiting. An Oklahoma City native, Aber graduated from Northeastern State. Before joining The...

A lifelong resident of the Oklahoma City metro area, Scott Wright has been on The Oklahoman staff since 2005, covering a little bit of everything on the state's sports scene. He has been a beat writer for football and basketball at Oklahoma and...